Paint can holder



Aug. 28, 1962 G. LONG PAINT CAN HOLDER Filed Oct. 18, 1960 IN VEN TOR.

a w: L N W IMO L 7 M 1& 5o wmw 2v. ma

time {Mob Fice 3,051,429 PAINT CAN HOLDER Gertrude Lillian Long, 400 Erie St., Little Valley, N.Y. Filed Oct. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 63,369 1 Claim. (Cl. 248226) This invention relates to a paint can holder, and refers more particularly to a portable paint can holder for use on scaffolding.

It is well known that painters, when working on scaffolding and similar platform type devices used for working above ground level, are accustomed to either set opened paint cans on the floor of the scaffolding or hang them from a scaffolding member where they are exposed to accidental tipping. When through accident or other circumstance a paint can is tipped over, uneconomical loss of paint and unnecessary labor for clean up result. Additionally, falling paint and paint cans constitute ac cident hazards to people and property located directly beneath the scaffolding and in areas adjacent thereto. Further, the lack of a more desirable positioning of the paint can relative to the painter requires that he expend more unproductive labor than is necessary.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a safe and effective paint can holder for use on scaffolding.

It is another object of this invention to provide a paint can holder for use on scaffolding that is securely attached to and removed from the scaffolding in as simple manner as possible.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a portable paint can holder that holds a paint can relative to the pain-ters working position such that minimal effort is required of him to replenish paint on the brush or applicator.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a receptacle fashioned to hold a paint can or cans in an upright position, preferably at approximately waist level of the painter. The receptacle is rigidly fixed to a vertical rod at the bottom of which is fixed a horizontally positioned clamping means which may consist of a rigid upper jaw for clamping to the top side of a scalfold plank and a tension spring actuated, pivoting lower jaw for clamping to the plank underside. The lower jaw may be released or applied to the plank by a vertical rod connected to a hand lever fastened beneath the receptacle.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing, by way of ex ample, a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the paint can holder constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, clamped to a scalfolding platform;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the holder.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference number indicates the paint can holder.

A receptacle having vertical prongs 11, horizontal bases 21 and horizontal cross pieces 28 is formed from any suitable material to provide a can holding means for 4 one quart size paint cans. In the illustrated construction there are five vertical prongs 11 attached to the two bases 21 which extend at right angles to each other. Horizontal cross pieces 28 connect the ends of the bases 21 to provide a support for the cans. Straps 29 are rigidly connected to vertical prongs 11 as shown and prevent movement of the paint cans in the receptacle. The straps 29 are arcuate in shape to conform to the cylindrical contour of paint cans. While the illustrated embodiment shows a receptacle for 4 one quart paint cans, it is not illustrated by way of limitation as obviously, the receptacle can be equally fashioned to hold a single one gallon paint can as well as others.

The receptacle is firmly mounted on a vertically disposed support rod 14 formed of two separate members spaced relative to each other by a spacer piece 22 to provide an opening through which passes a vertical connecting rod 15. An important feature of this construction is that support rod 14 is of sufiicient height to maintain the can holding means at approximately waist level of any person of average height. Practical experimentation demonstrates that the support rod 14 height should be in the range of twenty-four to thirty-six inches.

The clamping means comprise an upper jaw 12 extending in a plane parallel to receptacle bases 21, and fastened rigidly to support rod 14 at 23 by any suitable means at a point near the bottom of the rod 14. The jaw 12 is Wide and frame-like in shape. The lower jaw 13 of the clamping means is comparatively narrow and elongated, and is fastened by a pivot 2%) to support rod 14 at its bottom. Lower jaw 13 is connected at 26 at approximately its mid-length to a vertically disposed connecting rod 15, the upper end of which is connected at 27 to one end of the unclamping lever 16. The fastenings at both points of connection 26 and 27 are of any suitable type that permits pivotal action.

Unclamping lever 16 is fastened by a pivot 19 to support rod 14 at a point near its top, parallel to and in sufficient relation to the longest leg of receptacle bases 21, so that the lever 16 and the base leg may be easily grasped in a persons hand to actuate the lower jaw 13 of the clamping means.

Lower jaw 13 of the clamping means is held in normally closed position by a tension type coil spring 18 which is fastened at 24 and 25 to the lower jaw 13 and support rod 14 at approximately the mid-length of the rod 14.

Lower jaw 13 of the clamping means is fitted on its clamping end with a pivotal insert 17 having raised ends to provide a positive grip for the jaw and obviate jaw slippage.

A small wheel 30 is rigidly fastened to the bottom of support rod 14 to facilitate handling of the paint can holder 10 when it is not in use.

In operation:

FIGURE 1 shows by broken lines the positions of the lever 16 and the lower jaw 13 in the inoperative unclamped position of the paint can holder 10. In this position, the upper end of the rod 15 which carries the pivot 27, engages an underlying surface of the base 21.

Assuming that the paint can holder 10 is to be used on a scaffold, a person grasps the holder with either hand by placing his hand palm downward on the top side of the longest leg of receptacle bases 21, girding the leg with the thumb on one side and the remaining fingers in extended position downward on the other side. The extended fingers grasp the underside of unclamping lever 16. When the hand is closed, the unclamping lever 16 is forced upward and due to the pivotal action of the lever, vertical connecting rod 15 is forced downward overcoming the tension force of coil spring 18, thereby forcing lower jaw 13 downward and enlarging the span between it and upper jaw 12 of the clamping means. With the hand fully closed, the span of opening between jaws of the clamping means is in excess of the thickness of standard scaffolding planks. The opened jaws 12,

13 of the clamping means are then slipped over the scaltold plank, the upper jaw 12 resting on the topside of the plank and the lower jaw 13 being below the underside of the plank but not yet in contact therewith. The holder is then pulled towards the scaffold plank until the vertical connecting rod 15 is resting against the edge of the plank most immediate. The grip on the control lever is then relaxed allowing the tension force of coil Spring 18 to pull lower jaw 13 of the clamping means upward until the-pointed ends of the jaw insert 17 enter the underside of the scafiold plank with complete closure of the clamping means occurring, at which point, the spring holds the jaws firmly closed. This position is shown in full lines in FIGURE 1. The paint can holder 10 is now set in a secured position to admit the removable insertion, in an upright position, at waist level, of the paint cans.

It willbe understood that the invention is not limited to the exact disclosure herein described but may lend itself to a variety of expressions Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A paint can holder for scaifolding and the like, comprising in combination: can holding means having a base portion including an extension piece, and canengaging prongs connected with said base portion and extending perpendicularly thereto, a support rod having a top portion firmly supporting said can holding means; clamping means carried by said support rod and comprising a frame-like top jaw fixedly connected at one end to a lower portion of said support rod, an elongated lower jaw cooperating with said fixed jaw and pivotally mounted at one end to said lower portion of said sup port rod, and a tension spring connected with said lower jaw and said support rod and urging said lower jaw toward. said upper jaw, a connecting rod having a lower end pivotally connected to said lower jaw intermediate References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Paxton July 6, 1954 Landis Sept. 8, 1959 

